Compressed-air pump installation, working under hyrdrostatic pressure



March 8, 1949. J. P. POLOUEKTOFF 2,463,804

COMPRESSED AIR PUMP INSTALLATION, WORKING UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE Filed March 13, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 9 1949. J. P. POLOUEKTOFF 2,453,304

COMPRESSED AIR PUMP INSTALLATION, WORKING UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE Filed March 13, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

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I COMPRESSED AIR PUMP INSTALLATION, WORKING UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE Filed March 13, 1945 March 1949- J. P. POLOUEKTOFF 2,463,304

. COMPRESSED AIR PUMP INSTALLATION, WORKING UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE Filed March 13, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 v frwerular (I fozozwifoff f? zmmwmramfllzhrne ys March 8, 1949. J p PQLQUEKTQFF 2,463,804

COMPRESSED AIR PUMP INSTALLATION, WORKING UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE Filed March 13, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 11 6a a U March 1949 J. P. POLOUEKTOFF 2,463,304

COMPRESSED AIR PUMP INSTALLATION, WORKING UNDER HYDROSTATIG PRESSURE Filed March 13, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 1949. J. P. POLOUEKTOFF COMPRESSED AIR PUMP INSTALLATION, WORKING UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 13 1945 Patented Mar. 8, 1949 COMPRESSED-AIR PUMP INSTALLATION,

WORKING UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRES- SURE Jean Paul Polouektoff, Paris, France Application March 13, 1945, Serial No. 582,462 In France June 7, 1944 4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a pumping installation working under hydrostatic pressure, of the type in which the delivery of the liquid is efiected by means of a fluid under pressure, for example, compressed air.

An installation in conformity with the invention essentially comprises a pump formed of two vessels constituting cylinders and associated with an air distributor which puts successively and alternately one of the ends of each of the cylinders into communication with the supply of compressed air and with the air discharge pipe whilst the opposed ends of these cylinders are, for their part, alternately and successively put into communication with the liquid delivery pipe and with the suction pipe for the latter, so that each of the cylinders works under the delivery phase whilst the other works under the replenishing phase, and conversely.

The installation according to the invention, which is very simple in construction, dependable in its operation and highly eificient, can be put to the most varied uses.

The main peculiarities and advantages of the present invention will, moreover, be more clearly apparent from the following description in refer ence to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, diagrammatically and solely by way of example, a form of embodiment of a pumping installation in accordance with the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a pumping installation as a whole, with an immersed pump.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the invention as applied to the raising of a sunken ship.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the invention used on board a ship.

Fig. 4 shows, in longitudinal section, the pump per se.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the suction chamber of this pump,

Fig. 6 shows the pump in longitudinal section but along a section plane perpendicular to the section plane of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the delivery chamber of the pump.

Fig. 8 is, on a larger scale, a longitudinal section of the air distributor and of the pressure regulator.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section along IX--IX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is another longitudinal section along X--X of Fig. 9.

Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are transverse sections, respectively along the lines Xl-XI, XII- 2 XII, XIII--XIII, .'XIVX[V, and XVXV of Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 16 shows the vacuum regulator. The pump according to the invention comprises, as shown in particular in Figs. 4 to '7, a

vessel I inside which is arranged a second vessel 2. In the example shown, it has been supposed that these vessels are cylindrical in shape. It is obvious however that they could assume any other'shape, particularly in pumps of the horizontal type. These two vessels thus define an inner pump cylinder 3 and an outer or annular pump cylinder 4. These two cylinders are called upon to operate successively with an angular displacement of and have substantially the same volume. They are limited at their upper end by a delivery chamber 5 and at the lower end by a suction chamber 6 into which the water to be pumped and delivered enters through a pipe connection 1. In this chamber 6 are arranged the suction valves 8a (for the cylinder 3) and 9a (for the cylinder 4) and the corresponding delivery valves Sr and 9r. The valves 8a and 9a open upwards and the valves 8r and 91- downwards; in the example shown, four suction valves and two delivery valves have been shown for each cylinder. All these valves can be constructed in any known suitable way. The embodiment illustrated is particularly advantageous in view of its simplicity since the valves are formed of simple rubber balls, operating solely under air or water pressure. The delivery chamber 5, arranged at the upper end, discharges outside through the medium of a clack valve In to which a pipe 100. (Fig. 1) can be connected.

The cylinders 3 and 4 are associated with a source of compressed air, for example with a compressor ll (Figure l), the delivery pipe of which is shown at l2 and the suction pipe at I3; in this embodiment of Figure 1, the compressor operates in closed circuit. A vacuum regulator generally designated by [4 in Fig. 1 and shown on a larger scale in Fig. 16, assures the automatic introduction of a certain amount of air, when the partial vacuum inside the suction pipe I3 sinks below a predetermined value. This vacuum regulator essentially comprises a piston-valve 15 moving past openings I6 provided in the body of the apparatus. This piston-valve is controlled by a member that can be deformed (for example, bellows l1 and provided with an adjusting counterweight l8. Whilst the pressure within the pipe l3 remains above a predetermined value, the bellows I! maintain the piston IS in the position in which it closes the openings l6. As soon as the pressure sinks below this value, the bellows fold themselves and the piston, as it uncovers the openings, allows the necessary amount of air to enter in order to reduce the partial vacuum to the desired value. In the compressor circuit is also arranged a filter 55,

The two cylinders 3 and 4 of the pump are alternately and successively put into communication, by their upper end, with the delivery and suction side of the pump through the medium of an air distributor which is shown in detail in Figs. 8 to 15.

This distributor essentially comprises a cylindrical body IS in which moves a balanced slide valve 20. This body I!) is adapted to communicate: (a) with the delivery pipe |2 of the compressor, through the medium of the conduit 2|, issuing into said body through the opening 22, a pressure regulating device, hereinafter to be described, being interposed between this conduit 2| and the pipe l2; (1)) through an opening 23 and the conduit 24, with the suction pipe [3 of the compressor; through an opening 25 and the conduit 26, with the conduit 260. leading to the upper portion of the pump cylinder 3; ((1) through an opening 21 and a conduit 28, with the conduits 28a leading to the upper portion of the cylinder 4.

The distributing slide valve 20 can occupy two positions: the upper position (Figure 8) in which it puts into communication, first, the annular cylinder 4 with the compressed air inlet pipe |2 and, second, the inner cylinder 3 with the suction pipe l3 of the compressor; and the lower position in which it puts into communication, first, the annular cylinder 4 with the suction pipe l3 and, second, the cylinder 3 with the compressed air supply inlet pipe |2.

This slide valve 2|] can he suddenly brought from oneposition to the other, and conversely, by any suitable device. In the example shown (see Figures 4 and 6), this control is assured by a small piston 29 moving in a cylinder 30 inwhich the distribution of compressed air, admitted by the duct 3|, is assured, in the usual manner (not shown), by a balanced slide valve 32 forming a type of relay. This slide valve is connected to a stirrup 33 upon which acts a float 34, free to move within the cylinder 3. This stirrup is, in its turn, connected, by means of a rod 35 of adjustible length, to'lower lugs 36. When the liquid rises in the cylinder 3, the float 34 rises at the same time. At the end of its travel, it draws with it, through the medium of the cushions 31a, the aggregate 333536 into its upper position (shown in full lines in Figure 4) in which the slide valve 32 also occupies its upper position and then puts the compressed air inlet 3| into communication with the upper face of the piston 29 which suddenly brings and maintains the distributing slide valve 20 in its lower position. When, conversely, the liquid descends again, the float sinks with it. However, the parts 33-45-33 are locked in their upper position by retaining catches 31 pivoting at 38 and cooperating with openings 39 in the rod 35. It is only when the cylinder 3 is empty and the float 34 is in its lower position that the latter first releases the catches 31 (by acting on their tongues 40) and then, by acting by its own weight on the lugs '36, causes the stirrup 33 to descend. The slide valve 32 then occupies its lower position in which it causes the air inlet 3| to communicate with the lower face of the piston 29 and the upper face of the latter'withthe exhaust 42. Thebiston '29=then 4 rises suddenly, drawing with it the slide valve 20 which then comes suddenly to its other extreme position. Cushions 43 and 44 limit the stroke of this slide valve 20. At the end of the stroke, the lugs 36 come to rest on the cushions 45.

The operation of this pump will now be described under the assumption that it is immersed in a certain water depth H (Fig. l) and also that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4 (the stirrup 33 occupying however its lower position, shown in dotted lines). The slide valve 20 is in its upper position, so that the compressed air arriving through pipe l2 passes through the conduit 2|, the opening 22, the opening 21, the conduit 28 and finally reaches, through conduit 28a, the annular cylinder 4. This cylinder is in the course of being emptied, the water contained therein being expelled, through the action of the compressed air, through the valves Br and conduit 46, towards the delivery chamber 5 whence it is expelled to a point beyond the valve l0. In the meantime, the inner cylinder 3 is in communication, through conduit 26a, conduit 26, opening 25, opening 23 and conduit 24, with the suction pipe l3 0f the compressor. Under the double action of the partial vacuum thus produced and the hydrostatic pressure H, the water coming through the pipe connection 1, passes through the valves 8a and fills the cylinder 3 which thus undergoes a filling phase whilst the cylinder 4 is in a delivery phase.

As the water rises in the cylinder 3, the float rises with it. When the filling operation is ended, the float acts on the stirrup 33 (which occupied its lower position shown in dotted lines) and raises it. The relay-slide valve 32 then comes into its upper position in which it admits come pressed air to the upper face of the piston .29 which then descends suddenly, thus bringing the distributing slide valve 20 into its lower position.

In this position, cylinder 3 is in communication with the compressed air pipe l2, whilst the annular cylinder 4 is in communication with the suction pipe I 3. The cylinder 3 is therefore in the delivery phase Whilst the cylinder 4 is in the replenishing phase. The float 34 sinks in cylinder '3 at the same time as the level of the water descends. However, the stirrup 33 remains locked by the locks 31, in its upper position. On the other hand, as soon as all the water has beenexpelled, this float brings the stirrup 33 in its lower positionand the relay-slide valve 32 causes the piston 29 and the distributing slide valve '20 to rise again. A new cycleis then started.

It will beeasily understood that, fora certain hydrostatic pressure H, corresponding .to .a.certain immersion depth, and for a certain .partial vacuum in the pipe I3, the time of ffilling T1 will be constant; it is then simply necessary to suitably determine the surface of the deliver valves and the value of the air pressure produced by the compressor in order to make the time taken by delivery T2 equal to T1. Apump is then obtained in which the two cylinders operate in,periect synchronism.

However, if the hydrostatic pressure I-I varies, particularly, owing to the variations of .the depth of immersion, or if the height of deliveryevaries, the air pressure assuring delivery must'be modifled in consequence. The present invention provides an air pressure regulator acting automatically. This regulator which is insertedbetween the air inlet pipe l2 and the conduit 2| (Figs.'8 to .10) of the air .distributor, essentially comprises a balanced out .ofi '41 -moving.iin a cylinder 48 integral with the distributor and having an opening 49, through which the compressed air reaches this cylinder, and an opening 50, through which it passes into the conduit 2|, whence it reaches the distributor. This cut off 41 is controlled by a pressure regulator 5| constituted by a deformable member 52 subjected, first, to the hydrostatic pressure H and to the action of the counterweight 53, and, second, to the air pressure prevailing in the cylinder 48. When initially setting the installation for operation,.the counterweight is so adjusted that, for a well determined hydrostatic pressure H, the cut off 41 is in a position in which it uncovers the opening 49 to such an extent that the compressed air pressure is that necessary to assure emptying of a cylinder in the desired time T2, equal to the time T1 for refilling. If the air pressure sinks below the useful delivery pressure, the cut off 4'! sinks and opens still more the opening 49, whereby the pressure is increased to the desired value. Conversely, if the air pressure exceeds the useful pressure, the cut off 41 closes to a greater extent the opening 49. An automatic regulation of the air pressure is thus obtained. The time T2 necessary for delivery is therefore maintained practically constant for each of the cylinders 3 and 4.

It is pointed out however, that as the hydrostatic pressure H increases, the time necessary for refilling tends to decrease, although the increase in the losses of pressure makes this diminution very slight. However, for high hydrostatic pressures, the time of refilling is slightly shorter than the time of delivery. The annular cylinder 4 thus plays the part of a compensating cylinder in as much as during the refilling phase of the cylinder 3, it is not wholly emptied since, as soon as the cylinder 3 is wholly refilled, the float 34 controls the reversal of the air distribution.

In order to avoid any introduction of water into the conduits of the distributor, at the end of each of the conduits 26a and 28a connecting this distributor to the cylinders, a float valve 54 is provided (see Figs. 4 and 9) which, when water reaches the upper portion of the corresponding cylinder, is raised and then closes hermetically the end of the associated conduit (26a or 28a).

In the form of embodiment which has just been described, it has been assumed that the compressor ll operates in a closed circuit, the exhaust conduit of the air distributor being then connected to the suction pipe l3 of said compressor. It is this embodiment which has been shown in Figure 1 in a very diagrammatical manner. It is however pointed out that the distributor could discharge the air directly into the free atmosphere. In this case, the filling of the cylinders would be carried out under the sole action of the hydrostatic pressure.

The installation according to the invention enables liquids to be pumped at all depths, with a regular and continuous output. It does not comprise any suction pipe or retaining valve and does not risk being drained. Moreover, it is very simple in construction and does not comprise any mechanical part such as: turbine, piston, connecting rod, gearing, etc.; it does not necessitate any lubrication, so that it can be used for the pumping of salt or fresh waters, muddy or sandy waters, as well as of petroleum products and of all liquids in general.

This installation can be applied to the most varied uses (sea work, public and private works, underground and mining work, petroleum industry, etc.) and it is only by way of example that it 6 has been shown in Figure 2 as'applied to the set ting afloat of ships. For this use, the pump can be arranged either inside the ship N to be set afloat, as shown in A, or outside the latter, as shown in B or C. In said figure, the air circuit has not been shown.

In Figure 3, the invention has been illustrated as applied to the various services on board a ship. In this application, the pump l--2 can assure drainage of the holds, the fire protection organization, the distribution of water to the various services in ships, etc.

It is to be understood that the invention has only been described and illustrated in an explanatory but in no wise restrictive manner and that modifications of detail could be made without departing from the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In a pumping installation working under compressed air, in combination, a pump comprising first and second tubular vessels arranged One within the other, a delivery chamber at one end of the vessels, an admission chamber at the other end of said vessels, a source of compressed air supply having a high pressure side and a vacuum side, connections between said vessels and the high pressure and vacuum sides of said source, a distributor lodged in said vessels movable to one position for connecting said first vessel with the pressure and said second vessel with the vacuum side of said source and movable to a second position for connecting the second vessel with the pressure and the first vessel with the vacuum side of said source, whereby when one vessel is discharging through said delivery chamber the other vessel is filling through said admission chamber, actuating means for said distributor lodged in the inner vessel and'adapted to shift the distributor back and forth between said two positions, in function of the level of liquid in said inner vessel exclusively, means for maintaining said distributor in said respective position during the whole of said filling and discharging phases, and means for automatically regulating in function of hydrostatic pressure, the compressed air pressure being fed to said distributor.

2. A pumping installation as claimed in claim 1 in which said air distributor comprises a vertical cylindrical body having spaced openings therein communicating with said connections, and a slide valve movably mounted in said body and having spaced parts for moving alternately to one and the other sides of said openings to put the vessels alternately in communication with the pressure and vacuum sides of the source, the means for actuating said distributor and maintaining it in said respective positions comprising a piston connected to said air distributor, a cylinder for said piston, a relay-slide valve in communication with the pressure side of said source and movable to one position in which it applies air pressure to one side of said piston and to a second position in which it applies air pressure to the other side of said piston to move the piston with consequent movement of said distributor, means to move said relay-slide valve, 2. float in the inner vessel for controlling the actuation of said last-named means, catch devices for holding said relay-slide valve in one position when the float is raised and disposed in the path of said float to be released thereby on the descent of the float.

3. A pumping installation as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pressure regulator placed on the compressed air inlet side of said distributor, hydrostatic pressure responsive means con- 7 nectegl to said ;presureregu1 tpr. and e ut efl de ice vto the .cQm es ed r s p y to t e d stri uto con ect d r contm t said es u e vre to 4. A pumping installation as claimed in claim 1 in which the vessels are cylinders of different diameters placed one within the other, said first vessel being within the inner smaller cylinder, the second vessel being substantially of equal capacity to the first vessel and lying in the annular rspac'e vbetween the two cylinders, a delivery chamber at one end of the cylinders, a suction chamber at the other end of the cylinders, float valves in both vessels automatically and hermetically closing theeirc nnflct s ente ing sa d es e when the 15 ev l o he liqu d ri es high to 9 9?? said float a s- JEAN PAUL .PQLOUEKTQFF- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UN E ST TES P TENT? 19 Number Name Date 547,634 Dyer et -a1 Oct. ,8, 1895 629,867 Mitchell Aug. '1, 1899 674,700 Hobby May 21,, 1901 1,253,914: Walls Jain; 1918 

